Patents by Inventor William M. Conlon

William M. Conlon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11905882
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for storing energy in liquid air and releasing the energy through a thermal power cycle, that incorporates liquid carbon dioxide capture and separation from the exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Timothy C. Allison, Owen M. Pryor, William M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 11840943
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for integration of renewable and conventional energy to enhance electric reliability and reduce fuel consumption and emissions via thermal energy storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Pintail Power LLC
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Publication number: 20230340909
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for storing energy in liquid air and releasing the energy through a thermal power cycle, that incorporates liquid carbon dioxide capture and separation from the exhaust stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy C. Allison, Owen M. Pryor, William M. Conlon
  • Publication number: 20230287808
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for start-up and control of liquid salt energy storage combined cycle systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: PINTAIL POWER LLC
    Inventor: William M. CONLON
  • Patent number: 11686527
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods use cryogenic liquids such as, for example, liquefied natural gas and liquefied air or liquefied air components to store thermal energy. The cryogenic liquids may be produced using electrically powered liquefaction methods, for example, using excess electric power during periods of over-generation on the electric grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Pintail Power LLC
    Inventor: William M Conlon
  • Patent number: 11674439
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods store energy by liquefying a gas such as air, for example, and then recover the energy by regasifying the liquid and combusting or otherwise reacting the gas with a fuel to drive a heat engine. The process of liquefying the gas may be powered with electric power from the grid, for example, and the heat engine may be used to generate electricity. Hence, in effect these apparatus, systems, and methods may provide for storing electric power from the grid and then subsequently delivering it back to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Pintail Power LLC
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 11578623
    Abstract: In a cryogenic combined cycle power plant electric power drives a cryogenic refrigerator to store energy by cooling air to a liquid state for storage within tanks, followed by subsequent release of the stored energy by first pressurizing the liquid air, then regasifying the liquid air and raising the temperature of the regasified air at least in part with heat exhausted from a combustion turbine, and then expanding the heated regasified air through a hot gas expander to generate power. The expanded regasified air exhausted from the expander may be used to cool and make denser the inlet air to the combustion turbine. The combustion turbine exhaust gases may be used to drive an organic Rankine bottoming cycle. An alternative source of heat such as thermal storage, for example, may be used in place of or in addition to the combustion turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: PINTAIL POWER LLC
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Publication number: 20220356819
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for integration of renewable and conventional energy to enhance electric reliability and reduce fuel consumption and emissions via thermal energy storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventor: William M. CONLON
  • Publication number: 20220325640
    Abstract: A method of operating a thermal energy storage system comprises operating a pump to circulate a heat transfer fluid from cold storage through a heating system to hot storage, supplying electric power from an electric power grid external to the thermal energy storage system to power an electric heater in the heating system that heats the heat transfer fluid as it circulates through the heating system to hot storage, regulating a flow rate of the heat transfer fluid through the heating system so that the heat transfer fluid enters hot storage at a specified temperature, and regulating the supplying of electric power from the electric power grid to the electric heater to balance supply of and demand for power on the electric power grid and maintain a frequency, a voltage, or a frequency and a voltage of electric power on the electric power grid at specified values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventor: William M. CONLON
  • Patent number: 11421560
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods store energy by liquefying a gas such as air, for example, and then recover the energy by regasifying the liquid and combusting or otherwise reacting the gas with a fuel to drive a heat engine. The process of liquefying the gas may be powered with electric power from the grid, for example, and the heat engine may be used to generate electricity. Hence, in effect these apparatus, systems, and methods may provide for storing electric power from the grid and then subsequently delivering it back to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 11359521
    Abstract: A dispatchable storage combined cycle power plant comprises a topping cycle that combusts fuel to generate electricity and produce hot exhaust gases, a steam power system, a heat source other than the topping cycle, and a thermal energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the thermal energy storage system, or from the heat source and the thermal energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the topping cycle may be used in series with or in parallel with the thermal energy storage system and/or the heat source to generate the steam, and additionally to super heat the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Publication number: 20220128300
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods use cryogenic liquids such as, for example, liquefied natural gas and liquefied air or liquefied air components to store thermal energy. The cryogenic liquids may be produced using electrically powered liquefaction methods, for example, using excess electric power during periods of over-generation on the electric grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: William M. CONLON
  • Patent number: 11221177
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods use cryogenic liquids such as, for example, liquefied natural gas and liquefied air or liquefied air components to store thermal energy. The cryogenic liquids may be produced using electrically powered liquefaction methods, for example, using excess electric power during periods of over-generation on the electric grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: William M Conlon
  • Publication number: 20210355845
    Abstract: In a cryogenic combined cycle power plant electric power drives a cryogenic refrigerator to store energy by cooling air to a liquid state for storage within tanks, followed by subsequent release of the stored energy by first pressurizing the liquid air, then regasifying the liquid air and raising the temperature of the regasified air at least in part with heat exhausted from a combustion turbine, and then expanding the heated regasified air through a hot gas expander to generate power. The expanded regasified air exhausted from the expander may be used to cool and make denser the inlet air to the combustion turbine. The combustion turbine exhaust gases may be used to drive an organic Rankine bottoming cycle. An alternative source of heat such as thermal storage, for example, may be used in place of or in addition to the combustion turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: William M. CONLON
  • Publication number: 20210348558
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods store energy by liquefying a gas such as air, for example, and then recover the energy by regasifying the liquid and combusting or otherwise reacting the gas with a fuel to drive a heat engine. The process of liquefying the gas may be powered with electric power from the grid, for example, and the heat engine may be used to generate electricity. Hence, in effect these apparatus, systems, and methods may provide for storing electric power from the grid and then subsequently delivering it back to the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventor: William M. CONLON
  • Publication number: 20210324765
    Abstract: A dispatchable storage combined cycle power plant comprises a topping cycle that combusts fuel to generate electricity and produce hot exhaust gases, a steam power system, a heat source other than the topping cycle, and a thermal energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the thermal energy storage system, or from the heat source and the thermal energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the topping cycle may be used in series with or in parallel with the thermal energy storage system and/or the heat source to generate the steam, and additionally to super heat the steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventor: William M. CONLON
  • Patent number: 11073080
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods store energy by liquefying a gas such as air, for example, and then recover the energy by regasifying the liquid and combusting or otherwise reacting the gas with a fuel to drive a heat engine. The process of liquefying the gas may be powered with electric power from the grid, for example, and the heat engine may be used to generate electricity. Hence, in effect these apparatus, systems, and methods may provide for storing electric power from the grid and then subsequently delivering it back to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 11053818
    Abstract: In a cryogenic combined cycle power plant electric power drives a cryogenic refrigerator to store energy by cooling air to a liquid state for storage within tanks, followed by subsequent release of the stored energy by first pressurizing the liquid air, then regasifying the liquid air and raising the temperature of the regasified air at least in part with heat exhausted from a combustion turbine, and then expanding the heated regasified air through a hot gas expander to generate power. The expanded regasified air exhausted from the expander may be used to cool and make denser the inlet air to the combustion turbine. The combustion turbine exhaust gases may be used to drive an organic Rankine bottoming cycle. An alternative source of heat such as thermal storage, for example, may be used in place of or in addition to the combustion turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 10982570
    Abstract: A dispatchable storage combined cycle power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, a heat source other than the combustion turbine generator, and a thermal energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the thermal energy storage system, or from the heat source and the thermal energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine may be used in series with or in parallel with the thermal energy storage system and/or the heat source to generate the steam, and additionally to super heat the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 10808685
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, another heat source in addition to the combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, and an energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the energy storage system, or from the heat source and the energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used primarily for single phase heating of water or steam in the steam power system. Alternatively, heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used in parallel with the energy storage system and/or the other heat source to generate steam, and additionally to super heat steam. Both the combustion turbine generator and the steam power system may generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventor: William M. Conlon